Not in the game in Indian Wells, Daniil Medvedev will be expected in Miami, the other American Masters 1000 at the start of the season, where he will aim for a first title in 2022, to better become world No.1 again.
In Florida where Novak Djokovic will still be absent, because not vaccinated and as such not authorized to enter American territory, the Russian will have the opportunity to take back the throne from him, which he will only have occupied for three weeks.
And he won't have to look at which part of the table Rafael Nadal is in.
The Spaniard has indeed forfeited, driven by the need to rest before the clay.
The new world No.3 has also contracted an injury to the left pectoral and ribs, which prevented him from fully defending his chances in the Indian Wells final on Sunday, against the unexpected American Taylor Fritz, who inflicted his first defeat of the year.
Read alsoTennis: Djokovic regains his throne at the top of the ATP rankings, Fritz 13th
The latter, who jumped seven places to 13th in the world, also had an injury to manage, in the right ankle.
He was due to undergo an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) on Monday to determine the severity.
In Miami, where he reached the quarters last year in an edition won by the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (11th), Medvedev therefore has a few points to take and above all a morale to boost since his defeat in the Open final. from Australia, where he was knocked down by Nadal after an epic fight lasting more than five hours.
Alcaraz to confirm
The Russian, who like his compatriots and the Belarusians, will play without mention of his country or representation of his flag, according to the directive of the governing bodies of tennis in response to the war in Ukraine, could have to start against Andy Murray.
And his main competitors will be regulars like him in the top 5 in the world, Alexander Zverev (4th) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th).
Read also5 things to know about Carlos Alcaraz, the world tennis phenomenon
However, these two players quickly failed in Indian Wells, in particular the first, who was scrutinized after his bloodshed in Acapulco where he had been excluded from the tournament after hitting his racket several times on the referee's chair, at the end of a lost doubles match.
Semi-finalist in California, beaten by Fritz for the first time in 14 matches, after his victories in Marseille then Doha, Andrey Rublev (6th), who could find the volcanic Nick Kyrgios in the 2nd round, will be a serious rival.
Just like the 18-year-old phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz (16th), who pushed Nadal to his limits in the other shock of the last four, and has every intention of not stopping there.
How are Osaka and Azarenka?
Among women, in the absence of world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, who decided to recharge her batteries after her crowning at the Australian Open, the favorite is called Iga Swiatek.
The Pole has just won in Indian Wells and has risen to 2nd place in the WTA rankings, ahead of the Greek Maria Sakkari (3rd), whom she beat without difficulty in the final on Sunday.
Read alsoMiami: Caroline Garcia forced to retire in the first round
These two players will try to confirm their excellent current form in Florida where Aryna Sabalenka (4th), in poor shape, will have to pull herself together.
Finally, eyes will inevitably be on another Belarusian, Victoria Azarenka, who, for some unknown reason, burst into tears in the middle of the 3rd round match in Indian Wells, and on Naomi Osaka, who also broke down during and after the his own, hurt by an invective from the public (“Naomi, you suck!”).
Six months after her tears at the US Open, the Japanese was going through a new episode of distress.
